Stability and organic matter content of surface soil aggregates under different methods of cultivation and in grassland

The effects of direct drilling, shallow and deep tine cultivation, ploughing, and of growing and permanent grass sward on the stability and organic matter content of surface soil aggregates were studied on a range of soils in Southern England. Cultivation treatments were applied continuously for 4 to 6 years. Generally, relative aggregate stability, assessed by turbidimetric and wet-sieving techniques, was enhanced by direct drilling and other forms of simplified cultivation compared with ploughing. Increased stability was associated with increased organic matter status and was not pronounced under grass. In the case of a soil which was previously under permanent grass stability and organic matter content declined after direct drilling but significantly less so than after mouldboard ploughing. Differences in aggregate stability were detected in some soils only after modifying the test procedure and it appeared likely that the magnitude of differences were variable within a season and were related possibly to the tilth forming properties of the soils.     

秸秆和生物炭还田对棕壤团聚体分布及有机碳含量的影响

  【目的】  比较长期秸秆和生物炭还田后土壤团聚体的变化与差异,旨在探索棕壤适宜的改良方法。  【方法】  在辽宁沈阳棕壤上连续进行了6年的田间定位微区试验,种植制度为玉米连作,试验共设6个处理:不施肥 (CK)、单施氮磷钾 (NPK)、单施生物炭 (B)、生物炭与氮磷钾配施 (BNPK)、单施秸秆 (S)、秸秆与氮磷钾配施 (SNPK)。在玉米收获后,采集0—20和20—40 cm两土层土壤样品,采用Yoder湿筛法进行了团聚体分级和测定。  【结果】  与NPK相比,BNPK和SNPK处理显著提高了0—20和20—40 cm土层 > 1 mm、1～0.5 mm和 0.25～0.5 mm粒级团聚体含量占比,降低了0.25～0.053 mm粒级团聚体含量占比,SNPK处理提高大团聚体含量占比的效果显著高于BNPK。与NPK处理相比,BNPK和SNPK处理显著增加了团聚体平均重量直径 (MWD)、几何平均直径 (GMD) 和0.25 mm粒级团聚体含量 (R_0.25),即增加了团聚体的稳定性,SNPK处理的团聚体MWD和GMD值又显著高于BNPK,R_0.25值两处理间无显著差异 (0—20 cm土层)。随团聚体粒级减小,不同粒级团聚体有机碳含量随之减少,以 > 1 mm粒级团聚体有机碳含量最高。与CK相比,各施肥处理均增加了各粒级团聚体有机碳含量,BNPK处理对0—20 cm土层0.25～0.053 mm粒级团聚体有机碳含量影响最显著,有机碳含量增加了44.57%。  【结论】  长期秸秆和生物炭还田能够改变土壤团聚体的分布,有利于大团聚体的形成和土壤结构改善,可提高土壤团聚体有机碳含量和团聚体稳定性,增加作物产量;秸秆直接还田提高团聚体稳定性的效果优于生物炭还田,生物炭还田提高团聚体有机碳的效果方面优于秸秆直接还田。     

有机污染型灌溉水对土壤团聚体的影响

为了评估灌溉水中有机污染物对农田土壤物理状态的影响,本研究以长期采用有机污染型水体灌溉的陕西交口灌区农田土壤为研究对象,以气候条件、土壤条件以及耕作制度基本一致,长期采用未污染的地下水灌溉的农田土壤为对照,分别用干筛和湿筛法测定了土壤团聚体和微团聚体组成等,分析了优势团聚体的变化情况。结果表明:长期采用有机污染水灌溉明显降低土壤中大于10 mm大团聚体和小于0.25 mm微团聚体的含量,显著增加了直径为1～5 mm范围内"(质量)优势团聚体"的含量;水稳性团聚体与土壤有机质含量呈显著正相关,而与机械组成的相关系数未达到显著水平;有机污染型水体灌溉可以显著改善微团聚体的特性,增大了土壤团聚度,降低其分散系数,从而改善了土壤结构状况。综合试验结果证明,灌溉水中的有机污染物质有助于显著地改善土壤结构状况和特性。     

秸秆还田量对土壤团聚体有机碳和玉米产量的影响

为明确秸秆深还田对土壤团聚体及有机碳和作物产量的影响,在辽宁省半干旱地区进行了6年秸秆深还田小区定位试验,秸秆施用量分别为0(CK)、6 000 kg/hm~2(T1)、12 000 kg/hm~2(T2)、18 000 kg/hm~2(T3)、24 000 kg/hm~2(T4),将秸秆还入20～40cm土壤亚表层,利用干筛、湿筛得到不同粒级土壤团聚体。结果表明:秸秆添加与CK比可降低土壤0～20 cm和20～40 cm土层土壤容重;土壤机械性团聚体主要集中在0.25 mm粒级,而水稳性团聚体主要集中在0.25mm粒级,与CK处理比秸秆的添加增加了土壤机械稳定性团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)和土壤水稳性团聚体MWD,随秸秆还田量增加,MWD值增大;秸秆深还田使各粒级团聚体有机碳均高于CK,对20～40 cm土层土壤团聚体碳含量的影响大于0～20 cm土层;秸秆深还田可增加玉米产量,随秸秆还田时间延长,不同秸秆还田量对玉米产量增加存在差异,2016年玉米产量测定结果各处理与CK比,T1增产4.66%、T2增产6.71%,T3增产5.37%、T4增产8.82%。秸秆深还田,能够提升土壤团聚体的稳定性,有利于增加土壤团聚体碳含量,对土壤质量和玉米产量的提高具有促进作用。     

Nitrogen mineralization in marsh meadows in relation to soil organic matter content and watertable level

The objective of the present study was to asses the effect of watertable level on N mineralization in a Histosol and a Humic Gleysol profile under natural meadows in Ljubljana marsh, Slovenia. The two soils differ significantly in organic matter content (27—40 % in Histosol and 14—20 % in Humic Gleysol) but not in C : N ratio (13—20) and pH (6.5—7.0). For each soil, the watertable was maintained at two levels (above or below 50 cm from the soil surface) for approximately one year. The four main plots, according to soil carbon content and watertable level were divided into 4 subplots, according to 4 fertilization treatments (unfertilized control, PK, PK + 50 kg N ha^—1, PK + 3 × 50 kg N ha^—1). Net N mineralization in unfertilized subplots was estimated from indices of N mineralization obtained by incubation of soil samples in the laboratory and by seasonal dynamics of mineral N content in the field. Annual uptake of N in herbage under the 4 fertilization treatments was also measured. Total mineral N content in topsoil was 20—80 % higher in Histosol than in Humic Gleysol. Similarly, aerobic N mineralization potentials along the entire soil profile (0—90 cm) were 20—130 % higher in Histosol than in Humic Gleysol. By contrast, anaerobic N mineralization potentials in subsoil were 10—60 % lower in Histosol than in Humic Gleysol. Both, aerobic and anaerobic N mineralization potentials strongly depended on watertable levels at sampling time. Seasonal dynamics of soil mineral N content as well as N mineralization potentials indicated that the N mineralization in the Histosol could be 10—40 % higher at low than at high watertable level. In the Humic Gleysol the N mineralization could be 10—100 % higher at high watertable level. Higher N availability in Histosol at low watertable and in Humic Gleysol at high watertable was also reflected in higher N uptake in herbage. These results indicate that N mineralization in Histosol and Humic Gleysol, was proportional to soil organic matter content, whereas in both soils, higher N mineralization rates can be expected at watertable levels between 40 and 60 cm below the soil surface, than at higher/lower watertable levels.     

免耕对潮土不同粒级团聚体有机碳含量及微生物碳代谢活性的影响

利用中国科学院封丘农业生态国家实验站玉米-小麦轮作免耕定位试验平台,研究不同耕作方式对潮土不同粒级团聚体的分布、有机碳含量及微生物群落碳代谢活性的影响。结果表明,与传统翻耕处理相比,免耕潮土中大于250μm粒级团聚体显著增加(p0.05),50～2μm粒级团聚体显著减少(p0.05),250～50μm和小于2μm两个粒级团聚体没有明显变化;大于250μm和250～50μm两个粒级团聚体有机碳含量显著升高(p0.05),50～2μm和小于2μm两个粒级团聚体有机碳含量没有明显变化,250～50μm粒级取代50～2μm粒级成为对土壤有机碳总量贡献最大的团聚体。BIOLOG测试结果表明,免耕和翻耕两种措施下不同粒级团聚体微生物群落碳代谢特征存在明显差异,且免耕处理250～50μm和小于2μm两个粒级团聚体微生物群落碳代谢活性显著低于翻耕处理(p0.05)。结果显示,免耕有利于小粒级团聚体向大粒级团聚体方向聚合,大于50μm粒级团聚体固持的有机碳增多,其中持碳最多的250～50μm粒级团聚体的微生物碳代谢活性下降,故土壤有机碳稳定性升高。     

Stability analysis of aggregates in relation to the hydrophobicity of organic manure for Sri Lankan Red Yellow Podzolic soils

Aggregate slaking is linked with rapid pressure buildup within aggregates. Soil water repellency may help hamper the pressure buildup within aggregates by reducing their wetting rates. We examined the effects of animal manure in improving aggregate stability, the hydrophobic effects of green manure, and the possibility of using organic manure mixtures to increase the aggregate stability for Sri Lankan red yellow podzolic soils using model aggregates. Almost all the cow dung (CD) added samples showed extremely low percentages of water stable aggregates (%WSA) demonstrating rapid destruction of aggregates. Although the addition of ≥ 10% goat dung (GD) improved the %WSA, aggregate floating occurred, showing the risk of aggregate floating with runoff water. Addition of 5% GD would be an acceptable solution if the %WSA can be improved. Casuarina equisetifolia L. leaves (CE) was found to be a hydrophobic green manure. Although addition of ≥ 5% CE increased the %WSA up to about 90%, aggregate floating occurred. The possibility of improving %WSA using 1–2% hydrophobic green manure in organic manures mixtures was tested. Samples with 5% GD + 2% CE manure mixture showed the highest and the most stable %WSA without showing aggregate floating. Additions of compost and poultry litter were found not to be effective in improving aggregate stability with or without CE. Strong or higher water repellency was not observed in any of the samples with manure mixtures, showing that the addition of 1–2% hydrophobic CE would not induce detrimental effects of water repellency. There was no clear correlation between %WSA and the hydrophobicity of soils. However, the %WSA can be considered to show a tendency to increase with increasing hydrophobicity, because the %WSA was very high in samples with hydrophobic CE, the %WSA increased when mixed with 1–2% CE, and samples with highest water drop penetration time (WDPT) among all the manure mixtures showed the highest %WSA.     

土壤有机质含量对红壤性稻田残留氮在团聚体内分布的影响

化肥氮的残留及其分布对后季作物氮素供给和氮素损失均有重要影响。通过在田间试验中设置15N标记微区,在相同施氮量(150 kg/hm²)条件下,明确低有机质、中有机质和高有机质红壤性稻田化肥氮的残留量及其在不同粒径土壤团聚体中的分布。结果表明:与低有机质土壤相比,中有机质和高有机质土壤大团聚体(0.25～     

免耕和秸秆还田对东北黑土区土壤团聚体组成及有机碳 含量的影响

为解决东北黑土区因不合理耕作导致的土壤结构性状变差及有机碳含量下降的问题,该研究于2015年开始,在黑龙江省哈尔滨市东北农业大学向阳试验基地开展。设置免耕+秸秆还田（NTS）、免耕（NT）、翻耕+秸秆还田（CTS）、翻耕（CT）4种处理,于2018、2019年采集土样,研究免耕措施及秸秆还田对东北薄层黑土区0～10、>10～20 cm土壤团聚体稳定性、土壤有机碳含量、各粒径团聚体内有机碳含量的影响。结果表明：2018和2019年0～10、>10～20 cm土层NTS处理>5 mm水稳性团聚体百分比含量及平均重量直径显著高于其他3种处理,NTS及NT处理土壤有机碳含量显著高于CTS及CT处理（P?<0.05）,4种处理各粒径水稳性团聚体有机碳含量峰值总体出现在1～2 mm处,NTS及NT处理>5、2～5、1～2 mm有机碳贡献率整体高于CTS及CT处理。研究表明,免耕与秸秆还田有利于薄层黑土坡耕地耕层土壤团聚体稳定性的提高和各粒级下团聚体有机碳的积累,与其他3种处理相比,免耕+秸秆还田效果更佳。     

有机物料及无机氮对耕地黑土团聚体水稳性的影响

用室内模拟试验研究了有机C、无机N添加对耕地黑土不同粒级团聚体水稳性的影响。结果表明 ,在不添加任何物料的湿培养条件下 ,随团聚体粒径增大抵抗浸水分散能力减弱 ;添加葡萄糖和玉米根干粉对 1mm水稳团聚体有良好保护作用 ,但不能保护小粒径的团聚体。单纯添加无机N会引起耕地黑土团聚体水稳性下降。     

Utilization of organic materials in soil aggregates by bacteria and fungi

Cultures of six fungi and two bacteria were added to samples of aggregates in which either ¹⁴C-labelled glucose or starch was thoroughly distributed in macro- and micropores or in control samples where the labelled substrates were added to the preformed aggregates and considered to be mainly in macropores. The release of ¹⁴CO₂ was monitored over a 24-day incubation.In the control samples with substrates mainly in macropores, the bacteria were as active as fungi in releasing ¹⁴CO₂ from both soils. When the substrates were distributed in macro- and micropores in aggregates made from a fine sandy loam, the fungi were more efficient than bacteria in releasing ¹⁴CO₂. This was not the case in a self-mulching clay.The initial flush of ¹⁴CO₂ released during incubation of the amended fine sandy loam was due mainly to fungi, which were followed by a secondary bacterial population. The change in populations occurred simultaneously with a step in the cumulative ¹⁴CO₂ release curve thought to be due to the utilization of all the labelled substrate added, followed by renewed respiration as the secondary population flourished. The results presented fit well with an efficiency of C assimilation by micro-organism in soil of about 60%.     

栽培年限对日光温室土壤团聚体有机碳含量与组分的影响

为了探讨不同栽培年限日光温室土壤团聚体各组分有机碳含量变化,以辽宁省朝阳市日光温室土壤为研究对象,并以棚外旱田土壤为对照,研究了1、5、10、15及25年日光温室土壤不同粒径团聚体内轻组有机碳(Light fraction organic carbon,LFOC)和重组有机碳(Heavy fraction organic carbon,HFOC)含量的变化。结果表明,与旱田土壤相比,日光温室有利于土壤各组分有机碳的积累,且随着栽培年限的延长而增加,土壤有机碳(Soil organic carbon,SOC)与土壤LFOC含量呈显著正相关关系,相关系数R值高达0.994 5,而土壤HFOC增长缓慢;不同粒径土壤SOC、LFOC和HFOC含量均随着耕作年限的延长而有所增加。对于同一耕作年限不同粒径团聚体土壤的LFOC和HFOC含量变化按从大到小的顺序均表现为250~2 000μm、53~250μm、<53μm,且日光温室各粒径土壤LFOC和HFOC含量平均高于旱田土壤2.3倍和1.5倍。250~2 000μm对日光温室土壤各组分有机碳库贡献最大,R值分别为0.993、0.991及0.967。     

长期施用有机肥对西北半干旱区小麦田土壤团聚体分布及其有机碳的影响

以国家土壤质量安定观测实验站黄绵土区长期定位试验为研究平台,研究长期施肥对半干旱区小麦田土壤团聚体分布及其有机碳含量的影响。结果表明:0～20 cm土层土壤团聚体含量随粒级减小总体呈先降低后增加的变化趋势,团聚体有机碳含量随粒级减小呈增加的变化趋势。长期化肥与有机肥配施(NPKM)和单施有机肥(OM)较单施化肥(NPK)处理显著增加了>0.25 mm团聚体含量和团聚体平均质量直径,提高了>1 mm粒级土壤团聚体对有机碳的贡献率。各粒级土壤团聚体有机碳含量及团聚体有机碳储量均随着土层的加深而降低,>1 mm粒级团聚体有机碳对长期施用有机肥的农田有机碳变化响应敏感。NPKM和OM较NPK处理显著增加了0～20 cm土层土壤团聚体有机碳含量及其储量,其中0～10 cm土层团聚体有机碳储量分别增加了34.1% 和25.2%,10～20 cm土层分别增加了26.89% 和17.95%,而长期NPK处理对团聚体有机碳含量及其储量影响不明显。综上所述,在西北黄土丘陵半干旱区黄绵土条件下,长期施用有机肥(NPKM和OM处理)可显著提高耕层>0.25 mm团聚体含量及其稳定性,增加团聚体有机碳储量,土壤增碳培肥效果显著,而单施化肥对改善农田土壤团聚体结构及其固碳培肥效果不明显,需加强与有机肥配施从而实现土壤培肥。     

Long-term effects of biochar amount on the content and composition of organic matter in soil aggregates under field conditions

Purpose

Soil aggregates play an important role in promoting soil fertility, as well as increasing the sink capacity and stability of soil carbon. In this study, we consider the following research questions:1. Under field conditions, do different dosages of biochar increase the soil aggregation after 3 years of application?2. How does the application of biochar affect the concentration and distribution of soil total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in different sizes of aggregates?3. Can the application of biochar alter the composition of organic carbon in soil aggregates?

Materials and methods

Different amounts of biochar (up to 90 t ha^?1) were applied to a calcareous soil in a field experiment in 2009 along with the application of chemical fertilizer annually and the returning of winter wheat and summer maize straws. After 3 years, 0–20-cm soil samples were taken to measure the size distribution of soil water-stable aggregates by wet sieving, the concentrations of TOC and TN in whole aggregates and light or heavy fractions by elemental analysis equipment, and composition of TOC by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (Py–GC/MS).

Results and discussion

(1) The 3 years of biochar application had no significant effects on degree of soil aggregation but reduced the breakage of large soil aggregates (>1000 μm); (2) biochar significantly increased the contents of TOC and TN in soil macro-aggregates (>250 μm), as well as their ratios to total soil amount. Biochar also significantly increased the contents of TOC and TN in light fractions as well as the C/N ratio, which made the soil organic matter more active. The biochar dosage showed a significant positive correlation with organic carbon, total nitrogen, and C/N ratio in light fraction components of aggregates (>250 μm). Biochar mainly affected the organic matter in the heavy fraction components of macro-aggregates; (3) from the Py–GC/MS results, biochar increased the CO₂ content originated from active organic carbon.

Conclusions

Long-term application of biochar improved the stability of soil aggregates, increased the contents of TOC and TN as well as organic carbon and total nitrogen in macro-aggregates, and usually increased the contents of CO₂ originated from active organic carbon in light fractions. The findings were helpful in evaluating the effects of biochar on soil aggregation and organic matter stability.

     

Sources and composition of soil organic matter fractions between and within soil aggregates

It is generally accepted that particulate organic matter derives from plants. In contrast, the enriched labile fraction is thought by many to derive from microbes, especially fungi. However, no detailed chemical characterization of these fractions has been done. In this study, we wanted to assess the sources (plants or microbes; fungi or bacteria) and degree of microbial alteration of (i) three particulate organic matter fractions – namely the free light fraction (1.85 g cm^?3), the coarse (250–2000 μm) and the fine (53–250 μm) intra‐aggregate particulate organic matter fractions – and of (ii) three density fractions of fine‐silt associated carbon – namely < 2.0, 2.0–2.2 (i.e. enriched labile fraction) and > 2.2 g cm^?3– by analysing the amino sugars, by CuO oxidation analyses, and by ¹³C‐, ¹H‐ and ³¹P‐NMR analyses. Macroaggregates (250–2000 μm) were separated by wet‐sieving from a former grassland soil now under a no‐tillage arable regime. The three particulate organic matter fractions and the three density fractions were isolated from the macroaggregates by a combination of density flotation, sonication and sieving techniques. Proton NMR spectroscopy on alkaline extracts showed that the enriched labile fraction is not of microbial origin but is strongly degraded plant material that is enriched in aliphatic moieties partly bound to aromatics. In addition, the enriched labile fraction had a glucosamine content less than the whole soil, indicating that it is not enriched in carbon derived from fungi. Decreasing yields of phenolic CuO oxidation products and increasing side‐chain oxidation in the order coarse intra‐aggregate particulate organic matter < fine inter‐aggregate particulate organic matter < fine‐silt fractions indicate progressive alteration of lignin as particle size decreases. The light fraction was more decomposed than the coarse inter‐aggregate particulate organic matter, as indicated by (i) its larger ratio of acid‐to‐aldehyde of the vanillyl units released by CuO oxidation, (ii) the smaller contribution of H in carbohydrates to total extractable H as estimated by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, and (iii) a larger contribution of monoester P to total extractable P in the ³¹P‐NMR spectra. In conclusion, the four fractions are derived predominantly from plants, but microbial alteration increased as follows: coarse inter‐aggregate particulate organic matter < light fraction ≈ fine inter‐aggregate particulate organic matter < enriched labile fraction.     

Dependence of tensile strength of soil aggregates on soil constituents, density and load history

The compressive-tensile stress ratio at failure under unidirectional loading of air-dry samples of 10 soils was compared with their clay and CaCO₃ contents, and their surface areas. Deviations from the commonly assumed Griffith theory were found for two soils. No special relationships were found between soil constituents and associated compressive tensile stress ratio, even though this ratio tends to decrease slightly with increasing clay percentage.     

Physical factors influencing decomposition of organic materials in soil aggregates

Glucose or starch labelled with ¹⁴C was mixed thoroughly into slurried soils. Aggregates of different sizes were obtained from the soils as they dried. The labelled substrates were considered to be distributed in both micro- and macropores in the aggregates. Control samples (labelled substrates in macropores only) were prepared by adding the labelled carbohydrates after the formation of the aggregates. The various samples were sterilized by γ-irradiation and stored at ?15°C.Samples were wetted to about ?20kPa, inoculated with soil organisms, and incubated for 4 weeks at 28°C in closed systems, which enabled regular measurement of ¹⁴CO₂ released.Based on the ¹⁴CO₂ released, it was concluded that starch was protected from microbial attack when present in micropores in aggregates made from fine sandy loam.After incubation samples were dried and rewetted. The flush of ¹⁴CO₂ released was twice as big for samples containing labelled starch compared with glucose, showing that disruption of aggregates, containing residual starch, and rearrangements of soil components are as important as chemical and biological factors in causing the flush of CO₂ resulting from wetting a soil. Mechanical disruption of the aggregates resulted in a similar flush of ¹⁴CO₂.